Market prices

AT their weekly Primestock Sale held at Wooler last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 1,328 lambs and 326 ewes.

In conjunction with the weekly Primestock Sale the annual Christmas Show was held which was expertly judged by Mr A. Black, Dunbia, who awarded the Championship to Messrs A.H. Hunter and Sons, Juries House, Glanton, for a pen of Bel.x weighing 47kg and selling for £95.50p to the judge. Reserve Champions were from Roddam weighing 46kg and selling at £82 to Ben Gray. Many thanks to the kind sponsors of the event, Agri Lloyd.

All classes of lambs were treat with caution and buyers proved choosy, shapely fleshy types still in keen demand.

AT St Boswells Mart on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 114 clean cattle, 92 OTM cattle, 2,649 new season lambs and 915 ewes.

Bullocks (62) averaged 212.7p per kg and sold to 242p (+3.8p on week) while heifers (47) averaged 213.3p per kg and sold to 241p (+4.4p on week). Five young bulls averaged 211.1p per kg and sold to 234p (+4.4p on week) and 92 beef type OTM cattle averaged 127.4p per kg and sold to 211 (n/c on the week).

The 2,649 new season lambs averaged 158.2p per kg and sold to £96(225.7p) and 915 ewes sold to £111 and £114 for tups.

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 61 prime cattle, six young bulls, 26 over 30 month cattle, 5,441 prime lambs and 6,815 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A total of 21 cattle were on display at the Christmas Show and Sale of prime cattle, where the judge Mr John Little cast his eye over them and awarded the Championship to a Limousin heifer shown by Messrs R. Neill, Upper Tinwald, which later realised 280p (£1,708) and was purchased by the judge Mr John Little who purchased the beast on behalf of Lancaster Meat Co., Ltd. The reserve ticket was awarded to M. and G.A. Nicholson, The Lake, for a Limousin bullock selling at 250p (£1,750) to Mr M.G. Hall.

Also awarded was the cup for The Best British Beast which was given to a Galloway steer shown by A. Carruthers and Sons, Peela Hill, which went on to realise 225p (£1,350) purchased by W. Kirkup and Sons, Longtown.

Still more young bulls required with all breeds selling well and the best quality dearer. Top price to 226.5p for a British Blue shown by J. and P. Routledge and Son, Netherton.

A smaller show of over 30 month cattle forward with good meat cows selling well. Top price of 208.5p for a Limousin shown by Messrs West, New Holme Farm.

The Annual Xmas Show and Sale saw an impressive 580 head forward in nine classes in pens of ten.

Judging was ably carried out by Mr Michael Lomax of Little Deepthwaite, who awarded the Championship to last years winners, Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, Langholm for a pen of ten Beltex scaling 44kilos and realising £140 (318p per kilo) to Bowood Lamb, Busby Stoop, York.

Best quality heavy weight Charolais cross steers from Easington Grange, Belford, sold to 372p per kg and £1,759 per head. Continental heifers from Gala Farms, Hollybush, Galashiels, sold to 370p per kg.

Pure bred Limousin and Belgian Blue cows from Bowsden Moor, Berwick, sold to 335p per kg for ‘E’ grade 10 year olds. Young bulls from North Lyham, Alnwick, sold to 340p per kg and £1,416 per head.

Lamb trade has continued to bounce along at a very steady trade with the dearest lambs coming from Drummuir Estates, Keith, selling to 375p per kg. Lleyn cross lambs from Henlaw, Wooler, sold to 370p per kg. Export lambs sold to 360p per kg from Humbleton, Wooler, Howden Farm, Jedburgh, and Prendwick Farm, Alnwick.

Store cattle are particularly good to sell with 6/7 month old Simmental cross calves selling to 240p per kg.